Vernal Ponds Contained Basin Depressions Lacking a Permanent Above Ground Outlet Small Pool in a shallow Depression of a Wooded Area

Pool Formed by a Flooded Meadow Pool in a Vegetated Wetland

Pool in a Red Maple Swamp Large Pool Among Hills in an Upland Forest

Obligate Vernal Pond Breeders Wood Frogs Wood Frogs Mole Salamanders Mole Salamanders –Spotted –Jefferson/Blue Spotted –Marbled Fairy Shrimp Fairy Shrimp

Spotted Salamander Ambystoma Maculatum

Spring Migration of Spotted Salamanders Spring Migration of Spotted Salamanders

Spotted Salamander Congress Spotted Salamander Congress

Spotted Salamander Spermatorphores

Spotted Egg Masses Spotted Egg Masses Developing Eggs Egg Masses Most Often On Vegetation

Spotted Salamander Larvae Incomplete Metamorphosis

Blue Spotted Salamander Other Obligate Mole Salamanders

Jefferson Salamander

Marbled Salamander Marbled Salamander

Wood Frogs Rana Sylvatica Adult Females The Quacking Frog

Engaged In Amplexus Wood Frog Eggs Engaged In Amplexus Wood Frog Eggs External Fertilization

Wood Frog Communal Egg Masses

Wood frog Metamorphosis Tadpoles Tadpole to frog

Emergent Wood Frog with Tail Remnant

Fairy Shrimp 1 – 2 inch crustaceans that Swim upside down

Facultative Vernal Pond Breeders Spring Peepers Spring Peepers Eastern Newts Eastern Newts Spadefoot Toad Spadefoot Toad American Toad American Toad Fowlers Toad Fowlers Toad Pickerel Frog Pickerel Frog Leopard Frog Leopard Frog Green Frog Green Frog Bullfrog Bullfrog Gray Tree Frog Gray Tree Frog Spotted Turtle Spotted Turtle Blandings Turtle Blandings Turtle Wood Turtle Wood Turtle Invertebrates Invertebrates

Facultative Amphibians Spring Peeper Facultative Amphibians Spring Peeper Distinguishing characteristics: X Marks the Spot and the Pads on the Toes

Fowlers Toad Other Facultative Amphibians Spadefoot Toad

Leopard Frog Pickerel Frog

Bullfrog Bullfrog Largest New England Frog

Gray Treefrog Gray Treefrog

American Toad Distinguishing Characteristics Warts White Line down the Center of the Back

Facultative Breeders Green Frogs Common Lake/Pond Species Distinguishing Characteristics Green Throat Ridge Lines from Eyes to Hind Legs

Eastern Newts Eastern Newts Adult and Juvenile Red Eft

Facultative Reptiles Facultative Reptiles Spotted Turtle Blandings Turtle Wood Turtle

Vernal Pond Invertebrates Vernal Pond Invertebrates Isopod Backswimmer Dragonfly Nymph

Fingernail Clams and Flat Snails

Threats to Vernal Ponds Development Development Logging Logging Recreation Recreation Other? Other?

Vernal Pond Certification with Obligate Species Signed Observation Form Signed Observation Form USGS Map + One Other Map USGS Map + One Other Map Evidence of Obligate Species Evidence of Obligate Species –Photo of Pool Holding Water –Photo of Obligate Species Breeding

Certification of Vernal Pond with Facultative Species Signed Observation Form Signed Observation Form USGS Map + One Additional Map USGS Map + One Additional Map Photos Photos – Photos of Pool Holding Water and the Pool Dry – Photos of two or more Facultative Species

Certification of Dry Vernal Pool Signed Observation Form Signed Observation Form USGS Map + One Other Map USGS Map + One Other Map Photos Photos – Photo of the Pool Basis Without Water – Photo of Facultative Species Persistent After Pool Drying such as snail shells, fingernail clam shells, exuvia of dragonflies and damselflies